Search for Tsunade Arc

Naruto asks Tsunade to heal Sasuke and Lee before she is installed as the Hokage. After examining Lee, she tells him to find a path other than of that of a shinobi

Summary

Opening Theme-

"GO!!!" by FLOW

On this day in the Hidden Leaf Village, Shino Aburame is gathering bug in the forest, Kiba is leaping through the woods as he practices a new technique with Akamaru, and Hinata walks through the woods with them. She admires that they have something they are good at and they love. Shoni tells her that he hopes she find something like that one day. He then asks what he came to tell her.

In the Ninja Academy, Iruka is teach the glass, but Konohamaru looks distant. Raido Namiashi comes in to deliver a message to Iruka, and he calls an end to class. They are excited until they hear about the homework. Outside the school, Moegi is happy to skip Taijutsu class, but Udon complains how classes have been cut off so frequently. Kohamaru stops in the road when he notices Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane removing items of the Third Hokage out of the head office building. He runs up to demand to know what they are doing with his grandfather's possessions. They tells him since they aren't being used anymore that they would put them in storage. They try to tell him that the office now belongs to the Fifth Hokage. He's angered to hear a Fifth Hokage has been selected and thinks it's too fast.

Konohamaru's first impression of Tsunade

Konohamaru runs up the office, turns a corner and ends up face first into Tsunade's cleavage. He lingers there rubbing his face back and forth through her breasts and she does not seem the least bit pleased about it. Once he realizes the situation, he leaps away demanding to know what she's doing, but she feels she's more entitled to that question. She calls him a perverted kid, and he dares her to say it again, which she proudly does. Shizune arrives to tell her that the village elders are waiting. Waling away, Shizune pleads with Tsunade to be more considerate since she's the one who has to deal with complaints. Standing in the doorway yelling, Konohamaru is run over by Naruto. They exchange greetings and he asks if he saw a big breasted old lady go by, but then corrects it as a young lady. He's frustrated, becasue he wants her to go stright to the hospital to heal Sasuke. He tells Konohamaru she she's a famous Medical Ninja who has some to be the next Hokage. Konohamaru starts yelling at Naruto and calling him a liar as he runs out.

Elsewhere in the woods, Neji Hyuga trains using his Byakugan skill to see behind himself. He counts seven birds behind him within 50 meters, and suddenly he calls to his teammate Tenten, who approaches from behind. She's come to tell him that Lady Tsuande has returned. Looking up to the birds that were behind him, he now counts eight.

At the building of the Hokage, the elder Koharu Utatane tells Tsuande that they must meet with the feudal lord of the Land of Fire to announce her appointment. Though she tries to blow off protocol, she eventually relents. Koharu calls out of the ninja Genma and Aoba to assign them to spread the word of the Hokage inauguration.

Konohamaru stands alone and the memorial for the fallen at the training grounds. He says he hates his grandfather for dying. As Tsunade it leaving the meeting, She's shouted after by Naruto to visit the hospital already. Just as she's leaving, Shikamaru and Shikaku Nara arrive. he's been dragged there by his father. Shikaku greets Tsuande and she recognizes his as the little boy from the Nara Clan. Shikamaru asks who the lady is. Naruto answers that she's the next Hokage. Despite appearances, she's in her 50s, as well. Naruto runs after Tsunade and and tells Shikamaru he'll see him later to show off his new jutsu. Still in shock over the new Hokage, Shikaku tells him that she's the strongest and most beautiful woman in the world. Shikamaru can only say he's not too comfortable around women. Though they are usually frank, they tend to hang around you can never tell who's side they're on. They always think they can make men do whatever they want. To him, women are a pain. His dad tells him that without women, men can't be born, and nothing good would come of men. No matter how hard-edged a woman may be, she'll always show her gentle side to the man she loves. Shikamaru can't quite trust what his dad says knowing how his dad is tied to his mother's apron strings. Shikaku remembers why they are here and tells his son to hurry along with him. They can't be late or his mother will chew them out. Shikamaru says that no good will come out of some men.

At the Hidden Leaf Village hospital, Sakura is watching over Sasuke. Tsuande walks in and upon seeing her, Sakura thinks what a beautiful woman she is. Naruto runs in almost singing her name to tell Sakura that he brought someone to help Sasuke. Tsunade walks over to the bed and notices the flowers aren't from the same day and that Sakura has been visiting every day. Sasuke understands who Tsunade is from Might Guy's description. While Tsunade uses her healing jutsu, she glances over to Sakura as she wipes the tears from her eyes. Slowly, Sasuke begins to open his eyes. Overcome with joy, Sasuke clings to him. Naruto's happiness fades as he watches Sakura cling to him and weep, and Tsunade watches as he silently leaves the room.

Next room Tsuande visits is Kakashi Hatake. She berates him for being taken down as Guy impatiently waits for Rock Lee's turn to be seen. They find Lee walking down the hall with his crutch. After looking him over, her tone becomes very serious. She orders Naruto to run off, and h remembers he has an appointment with Iruka.

Naruto meets with with Iruka at Ichiraku Ramen. They go in to eat as Konohamaru looks on from the shadows.As they eat, Irickua tells Naruto that he's developed a long way since he wanted his forehead protector. Though, with a smile he stems Naruto's overconfidence that he still has a way to go. Iruka explains that things are difficult now in the village. On top of losing the Third Hokage, there were a lot of other ninja who died in that battle. They are at nearly half strength as they used to be. Still, they need to keep up with all their missions. Naruto thinks if they don't have enough people to just take less missions. Iruka explains that things don't work like that. If they started turning down missions, it would be telling their neighboring countries that they're weakened. Now that Kakashi is up, he'll likely be sent right out on a mission. Even Naruto will have to take on missions to help out the new Hokage. naruto agrees and Iruka pats him on the head saying for him to do his best.

Tsunade explains the extent of Rock Lee's injury

Back at the hospital, Tsunade examines Lee's back. She comes right out to break the bad news. She tells him to give up on the life of a shinobi. With a nervous laugh, Guy asks her not to joke in such a way to Lee. She explains that there are many bone fragments that are in areas of important nerves and have become deeply embedded. Lee is no longer physically able to perform the missions of a ninja. She tries to explain further, but Guy interrupts calling Tsuande an imposter. Shizune calms him, and Lee asks what his chances are. Tsunade explains that only she could perform this surgery. It would take too much time and the risk of the procedure. His best odds are 50% chance of success. If it fails, he'll die.

Might Guy remembers watching Lee practice in his weakened condition. Trying every trick Guy could think of to help Lee recover. Lee gets dressed and without a word limps out of the room on his crutch. Guy regrets ever bringing Tsunade to see Lee, but she tells him that he needed to hear this so he can prepare himself now. Waiting would only be worse.

Points of Interest

In the TV airing of Episode 98 in the U.S. the scene of Konohamaru lingering face first into Tsuande's breasts was cut from the airing.

Ino Yamanaka only appears in this episode as part of Shikamaru's negative view of women.